Packaging machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic packaging machine is described for use in packaging operations in which cases of packaged product must be broken open for intermediate operations, such as tax stamping, and then repackaged into their original cases. The present machine is adapted to receive individual open cartons, reseal them, arrange them in stacked rows corresponding to their previous arrangement, and reinsert them into their original case. Operating adjustments are provided to enable the machine to be used interchangeably with packages and cases of varying size.

United States atent Carl H. Mayer, Jr.

111 Ninth St., Wilmette, 111. 60091 728,585

May 13, 1968 June 15, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented PACKAGINGMACHINE 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl ..B65b 57/10, 1365b 35/40, B651) 35/50 Field of Search 53/26,61, 62, 77,159,162,164,165, 50, 131, 137, 374, 382, 387; 93/52; 214/62[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1960 Salwasser 12/1961Wilson etali 3,396,505 8/1968 MCCrudden 53/164X 3,340,672 9/1967 Kayser53/164 FOREIGN PATENTS 490,659 2/1953 Canada 53/164 1,475,781 2/1967France 53/164 Primary ExaminerTheron E. Condon Assistant Examiner RobertL. Spruill Attorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit and Osann ABSTRACT: Anautomatic packaging machine is described for use in packaging operationsin which cases of packaged product must be broken open for intermediateoperations, such as tax stamping, and then repackaged into theiroriginal cases. The present machine is adapted to receive individualopen cartons, reseal them, arrange them in stacked rows corresponding totheir previous arrangement, and reinsert them into their original case.Operating adjustments are provided to enable the machine to be usedinterchangeably with packages and cases of varying size.

PATENTEU JUHI 5 SHEET 2 IF 4 i. WZW m w V4 W MM M? WM a PATENTED JUN 15k SHEET 3 UF 4 PACKAGING MACHINE This invention pertains to packagingmachines, and in particular to machines adapted to repackage individualcigarette cartons into the original case from which they have beenremoved for purposes of tax stamping and the like. In its principalaspect, it concerns automatic mechanism for rescaling the individualcartons, stacking them in rows corresponding to the original casearrangement, and inserting them into their original case which is thentransferred to a conveyor for shipmentor storage.

At the present time, 48 of the 50 states of the United States requirethat tax stamps be affixed to each individual pack of cigarettes sold.These stamps must be affixed in the state of sale, thus preventing theirapplication at the factory. As a result, individual tobacco distributorsin nearly all states must open all cases of cigarettes received from themanufacturer, apply tax stamps to every pack, and then repackage thecigarettes for shipment to the point of retail sale.

In the past this has required that each case of cigarettes received fromthe manufacturer must be opened and emptied of the 60 individual cartonswhich each contains. Each carton is opened along one edge and the taxstamps are applied to the ten individual packs of 20 cigarettes eachwhich are contained therein. The cartons are then sealed, and placedback in the case from which they came. To perform these operationsmanually requires a disproportionate amount of labor. Although automaticmachinery for opening individual cigarette cartons and affixing the taxstamps has become available in recent years, no such machinery has beenavailable for returning the stamped cartons back to their original casefor shipment or storage.

Since cigarettes are now manufactured in several lengths and packagestyles, it is also necessary in any cigarette package-handling machineryto accommodate each of the several varying types of packages which maybe encountered in practice. For instance, cigarettes now range from theregular size to the king" size and even up to the I millimeter imperial"size. Some brands are marginally even longer, being 101 millimeters.Along with the king size is the regular size which is packaged in theso-called crushproof box, cartons of which approximate the king incarton size. Thus the longitudinal dimension of the cartons (in thedirection of the cigarette axis) is variable, and the width is alsovariable according to the type of pack involved, whether crushproof orsoft.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a packaging machine which is adapted to receiveindividual open cartons, stack them, and insert them into an open case.The machine is particularly intended for use with cigarette cartonswhich have been previously broken open for tax stamping, and iseffective to seal them and return them to the original case from whichthey came.

It is intended that the machine of the invention be effective toautomatically stack the cartons in rows and columns and then to transferthe completed stacked array directly into the case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automaticcigarette carton packaging machine which is capable of accommodatingseveral varying cigarette package lengths and sizes by means of simpleadjustments.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carton packaging machine embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of the crimper roller taken in the plane2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken 90 from FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a section of the machine taken in the plane 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the pusher bar operating mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the mechanism of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial section of the rear face of the machinetaken in the plane 6-6 of FIG. 1.

While the invention will be described in connection with a particularexemplary embodiment and procedure, it will be understood that it is notintended to so limit the invention, but it is instead intended to coverall alternative and equivalent constructions and methods as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by theappended claims.

Turning to the drawings, a machine embodying the present invention isshown in FIG. I. Indicated schematically are carton opening and taxstamp affixing machines which form no part of the present invention.

In its general outline, the machine of the present invention comprisesfirst a crimper roller mechanism 10 which turns down the opened flaps ofindividual cigarette cartons 11 after they have received a coating ofglue from a dispenser 12, and a constantly moving conveyor belt 13 ontowhich the powered crimper roller 10 discharges the cartons. The conveyor13 transfers the cartons to a station in which individual cartons arearrested by a stop 15 and lined up horizontally until sufficientcartons, six in number, are assembled to make a tier or layer in astacking chamber 16. After six cartons have been accumulated, a loadingmeans 17 off-loads the tier of cartons onto an elevator 18, which isthen effective to lift the cartons into a raised position within theloading rack where they are retained by spring-loaded holder bars 20,21. As each successive tier of cartons is accumulated and lifted intoposition by the elevator 18, the stack rises higher until it contains asmany cartons as were originally in the case to begin with. At thispoint, an ejector means 22 pushes the stacked array of cartons into atightly held case 23 which is slightly spread to receive the cartonswithout binding. When the case 23 has received the canons it is releasedand tips backward onto a conveyor 25 which carries it away from themachine.

The individual operations of the machine will now be described ingreater detail. Cigarettes are received from the manufacturer in closedcases, each containing 60 individual cartons of 10 packs each. The casesare opened with a rotating knife or other suitable means (not shown)into two halves of 30 cartons each with one end completely open. Thehalf cases are then dumped out and the cartons individually passedthrough an opening means which turns the carton flaps down against thesides of the carton. In this condition, each carton is passed through astamping machine which applies tax stamps to the exposed ends of thepacks contained therein.

Coming from the stamping machine, the flaps of the cartons tend toremain pressed against the carton sides and must be forcibly turned overin order that they may lie in a more or less flat condition for furtherpackaging operations. This is accomplished in the first instance by aflap-turning means 26 having a pair of curved blades which pick up andturn over a first carton flap 27 and then a second carton flap 28 insequence. The first flap 27 has been precoated on its underside by theglue dispenser 12, so that the carton 11 may be sealed merely bypressing the flaps 27, 28 together with the glue strip therebetween fora period of time sufficient for the glue to set.

In keeping with the invention, the closure flaps 27, 28 which wouldnormally resume their widely spread configuration upon leaving theflap-turning means 26 are formed into a semiclosed condition preparatoryto scaling by the crimper roller means 10. The crimper roller 10 isjournaled at the downstream end of a transfer chute 30 having a cartontransfer means 31 at its head or upstream end. The carton transfer means31 may consist of a pair of powered rollers which catch a carton 11 intheir nip and propel it through the transfer chute.

The crimper roller assembly 10 is journaled on a pivot axis 32 andpowered by means of a pulley 33 and belt 35 from a motor 36. So that acarton I1 passing through the device will be firmly urged against thecrimper 10, an idler roller 37 is spaced opposite the crimper roller 10on a spring-loaded journal means 38.

The crimper roller is comprised of two split halves 40, 41 journaled onthe common axis 32 and having resilient means, in this case springs 42,for urging the roller halves 40, 41 axially together. The crimper rollerhalves 40, 41 are formed in a manner which makes the roller 10spool-shaped, having end flanges or expanded diameters on each side.Adjacent each end of the roller 10 and aligned with one corner of acarton l 1 passing through the chute 31 is a circumferential notchhaving an inner edge 43. Within the notch around its inner edge 43, isan annular ring of resilient material 45 which in the illustratedembodiment comprises an ordinary O-ring. The O-ring 45 provides aresilient surface for the notch inner edge 43, and engages the uppercorner of a carton 11 traveling through the chute 30 at a pointimmediately adjacent its line of attachment to the carton. The resilientpressure and rolling force exerted by the crimper roller 10 incooperation with the idler roller 37 deforms the closure flaps 27, 28slightly at their points of attachment to the carton 11, and causes themto lie in a semiclosed condition during the remaining of the packingprocess until the flaps are finally held in a continuously closedposition at a later stage to allow the glue to set.

Upon being discharged from the crimper roller 10, the individual cartons11 are received by a constantly moving conveyor 13 and carried past atime delay trip switch 46 until they come to rest against the transversestop 15 overlying the conveyor. The conveyor 13 is preferably providedwith a springloaded release gate 47 opposite the transfer cute 30 sothat in the event of a jam or conveyor blockage, the cartons 11discharged from the chute 30 will simply be ejected through the gate 47instead of adding to the jam.

As soon as a predetermined number of cartons has been accumulatedagainst the stop 15, in this case six in number, an additional cartonwill come to rest against the time delay trip switch 46 and hold it inthe depressed condition as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. The switch46 actuates a time delay relay (not shown) which will not respond to amomentary actuation, but upon being depressed for I second or more itwill transmit an operating signal to actuate the loading means 17. Inthis way a full tier of cartons is accumulated before the loading means17 is called upon to initiate the next phase of machine operation.

The loading means 17 is actuated by an air cylinder 48 and includes apusher bar 50 carried by a sliding carriage 51 mounted for movement on atrack 54 consisting of two parallel ways aligned with the stop 15. Thepusher bar 50 extends ahead of the stop sufficiently far to encompass asingle tier of cartons stacked against the stop 15 when the additionalcarton actuates the switch 46. The carriage 51 is shiftable between anoff-loading stroke in the direction of the stacking chamber 16 and areturn stroke in the opposite direction.

As a principal feature of the invention, the mechanism of the loadingmeans 17 is effective to shift an accumulated tier of cartons into thestacking chamber 16 during the off-loading stroke, and return to itsinitial position on the return stroke in a manner which allowsadditional cartons to freely accumulate against the stop 15. This isaccomplished by providing mechanism which allows the pusher bar 50 toshift between a lower position adjacent the level of the conveyor 13 andin contact with an accumulated tier of cartons, and a raised positionspaced above the conveyor level by a distance exceeding the height ofthe conveyed cartons whereby the pusher bar 50 is able to return to itsstarting position without interference. Shifting means is provided forthis purpose, including momentary arresting means in the form of notches52, 53 at the starting and end positions of the stroke of the carriage51. The notches 52, 53 are engageable with a follower 55 mounted on thecarriage by springs 56 which allow it to engage the notches 52, 53 witha detenting action. The operating rod of the air cylinder 48 isconnected with the carriage 51 by a collapsing linkage means 57 whichprovides for raising and lowering movement of the pusher bar 50 when thefollower 55 is momentarily detented with the notches 52, 53.

In operation, starting with the carriage S1 at the end of its returnstroke and with the pusher bar 50 in the upraised position as shown indashed lines in FIG. 5, movement of the air cylinder 48 in theoff-loading direction will flatten the linkage 57 until it is almoststraight, and only then will the follower disengage from the notches 52.The carriage 51 remains in this configuration during the off-loadingstroke. Upon reaching the end of the stroke, the follower 55 engages theopposite set of notches 53. When the air cylinder 48 reverses for thereturn stroke as shown in phantom in FIG. 5, the carriage 51 ismomentarily retained and the linkage 57 jackknifes, causing the pusherbar 50 to rise and remain in its raised position during the returnstroke. During this return stroke additional cartons are allowed toaccumulate against the stop 15.

Further in keeping with the invention, a flap closer bar 60 is carriedby the stacking chamber 16 transverse to the direction of carriagemovement and parallel to the direction of conveyor flow. It is slopeddownward in the direction of off-loading movement at a height which iseffective to engage and depress the semiopen flaps 27, 28 of each carton11 in the tier being off-loaded from the conveyor 13 into the stackingchamber 16 as shown in FIG. 3. On the front face of the stacking chamber16 is a loading opening 61 having horizontal and vertical dimensionscorresponding to a tier of cartons being off-loaded from the conveyor13. The lowermost portion of the flap closer bar 60 is high enough toallow the tier of cartons 11 to enter the loading opening 61, but theangled position causes the semiopen flaps 27, 28 to be flattened as thetier passes into the stacking chamber 16. On the opposite or rear faceof the stacking chamber 16 is a discharge opening 62 having horizontaland vertical dimensions corresponding to the open or mouth end of anempty case 23. The lowermost portion of the discharge opening 62 ispositioned above the level of the conveyor 13 by a distance exceedingthe height of the highest carton 11 to be encountered during use. Anoffloaded tier of cartons 11 is raised from the level of the loadingopening 61 to that of the discharge opening 62 by the elevator 18. Thestroke of the elevator 18 is sufficient to raise each tier from thelevel of the loading opening 61 to that of the discharge opening 62.Control means including a limit switch 63 initiates the return stroke ofthe pusher bar 50 while a limit switch 64 initiates cycling of theelevator 18 from its lower to its upper stroke position and back again.

On moving the tier of cartons 11 upward, the holder bars 20, 21 areresiliently urged sideways to allow the tier to pass between them. Forthis purpose, the holder bars are pivoted for sideways displacement onpivots 65, 66 and urged inwardly by springs 67, 68. The rear spring 68is preferably heavier for aligning cartons within the chamber 16 as theyrise. Upon clearing the last of the holder bars 20, 21, the bars areenabled to swing inward to their rest position, whereupon the returnstroke of the elevator leaves the tier of cartons 11 supported at eachend by the holder bars in alignment with the lower edge of the dischargeopening 62.

Pursuant to a feature of the invention, a tier of cartons 11 which israised into position by the elevator 18 is resiliently urged to thefront of the stacking chamber 16 by a second holder bar, which ispositioned parallel to and adjacent the lower edge of the dischargeopening 62. For this purpose the second holder bar 21 is positionedsomewhat above the level of the first holder bar 20, which is itselfpositioned parallel to and adjacent the upper edge of the loadingopening 61. This allows the spring resilient means 68 for urging thesecond holder bar 21 inward to exert a momentary pressure on the tier ofcartons 11 after it has been released from the opposing pressure of thecorresponding resilient means of the first holder bar 20. The resultingmomentary unequal force urges the tier of cartons toward the front ofthe stacking chamber 16 and insures that is and subsequent tiers will bestacked in close alignment with one another.

As each successive tier of cartons is accumulated and loaded through theloading opening 61 and carried upward within the stacking chamber 16 tobe retained by the holder bars 20, 21, the stack is raised successivelywith each new tier until the stacking chamber 16 is filled. As the fillpoint approaches, the topmost tier of cartons is progressively raised byeach succeeding tier below it until it encounters a stack follower meansconsisting of a stack follower plate 70 mounted on a carrier 68 which isguided for rising and falling movement in vertical slots 71. The stackfollower plate 70 carries with it a vertical cam bar 72 which protrudesupward through the top of the stacking chamber 16. A counterweight 73connected to the stack follower plate 70 by a cable 75 can be varied toallow the stacking pressure to be adjusted. in operation, the stackfollower plate 70 rests at its lowest position in the slot 71 until thetopmost tier of stacked cartons rises sufficiently to contact it asshown in FIG. 3, whereupon it exerts a measured pressure as determinedby the counterweight 73 until the stack is completed (phantom lines). Atthis point, a fill indicator switch 76 at the top of the stackingchamber 16 is triggered by the cam bar 72, and control means (not shown)serves to initiate the ejection sequence whereby the stack of cartons isloaded into the case 23.

Pursuant to the invention the machine may be adjusted to accommodatevarying stack heights by selecting one of a plurality of cam surfaces onthe cam bar 72. The cam surfaces are cut into different faces of the cambar so that one may be selected for use merely by rotating the cam bar72 about its vertical axis and locking it in place with a setscrew 77 orsimilar means.

Either before or during the foregoing operations the empty case 23 ispositioned with respect to the discharge opening 62 by the machineoperator. For this purpose, clamping means for gripping and retainingthe empty case against the discharge opening are provided and spreadingmeans are used to open the case mouth to its widest dimensions for thepurpose of receiving the stacked cartons. In the illustrated embodiment,the clamping means comprise a pair of air-actuated grab cylinders 78located at the lower edge of the discharge opening 62 opposite athreshold plate 81. As the operator thrusts an empty case against thegrab switch 80, the grab cylinders 78 are actuated to grip the loweredge of the case against the threshold plate 81 and clamp it firmly inposition for loading.

Surrounding the remainder of the circumference of the discharge opening62 are spreader means for keeping the mouth of the case 23 in an openposition for filling. A vertically pivoted spreader door 82 is carriedat each side of the discharge opening 62, and the rear edge 79 of thestack follower plate 70 is also formed to constitute a horizontalspreader door. The vertical spreader doors 82 are pivoted for rotationabout a vertical axis and include resilient means for urging the doorsinward, in this case a tension spring 83v The horizontal spreaderportion of the stack follower plate 70 depends slightly at each rearface in its normal hanging position. When a stack of cartons is ejectedfrom the stacking chamber 16 into the case 23, the cartons contact theinner edges of the spreader doors 82 from their normal inwardly drawnposition within the mouth of the case, and cause them to pivot outwardin a manner allowing the stacked cartons to be positively guided intothe case mouth. The freedom of the stack follower plate 70 to rockslightly on its carriers 68 within the slot 71 allows the top ofthestack to be guided in the same way. The effect of the spreader doors82 and the rear edge 79 of the stack follower plate 70 is analogous to ashoehorn as the stack is guided into the spread case mouth.

In order to accommodate cases of varying height, and as a feature of theinvention, each of the vertical spreader doors 82 is provided with aplurality of cutout notches adjacent the upper edge of each case to beencountered during operation. The door 82 must be free to swing freelywithin the open mouth of each case to be encountered, and the first setof notches 85 is positioned to clear the tallest case to be used.Additional notches 86, 87 are provided for still shorter cases. Withsuch shorter cases, the stack follower plate 70 rises a shorter distancebefore the cam bar 72 trips the fill indicator 76. The notches 85, 86,87 allow the vertical spreader doors 82 to swing out and clear the upperhorizontal edge of the empty case 23 as the stack is inserted. In thepresent embodiment, the uppermost notch is positioned to accommodatecases for imperial size cigarettes, the next notch 86 is slightly widerand accommodates both king size and regular size in the crushproof box,and the lowermost notch 87 accommodates cigarettes of regular size.

The stack of cartons is loaded into the empty case 23 by an ejectormeans which discharges the entire assembled stack into the empty case atone time. The ejector means consists of an ejector air cylinder 90mounted on the front face of the stacking chamber 16. Attached to theoperating rod of the air cylinder 90 is a pusher plate 91 having heightadjusting means for accommodating carton stacks of varying heights. Forthis purpose the pusher plate 91 is provided with an upper notch 92 intowhich the tangs 93 of plate extension pieces 95 may be inserted. Adifferent extension piece 95 is used for each stack height to beencountered, so that it may follow the ejected stack through thedischarge opening 62 as defined by the spreader doors 82, thresholdplate 81 and rear edge 79 of the stack follower plate 70.

When the ejector air cylinder 90 has forced the stack of cartons all theway into the empty case 23, a control rod 96 trips a release switch 97which deenergizes the grab cylinders 78. The case 23 is then caused totip backwards and drop onto the conveyor 25 which carries it away fromthe machine. This is accomplished according to the invention byproviding a short case support platform 98 adjacent the grab cylinders78 and underlying the case 23. This platform 98 is made shorter than thedepth of the case 23 and extends beneath the case to a point short ofthe center of gravity of the filled case. In this way, the release ofthe grab cylinder 78 allows the overhanging case 23 to drop backwardonto the conveyor 25, thus allowing another case to be inserted in itsplace.

in order that a jam within the machine will not cause additional loadingoperations which would compound the difficulty, control means areprovided according to the invention to block the operation of theloading means 17 until the ejector air cylinder 90 has returned to itsformer position. Return is initiated by contact of the control rod 96with a pusher limit switch 99. Loading is blocked by a lockout limitswitch 100 which is normally open, and can only become closed to allowoperation of the loading means 17 when the ejector means and its pusherplate 91 have returned to the front of the stacking chamber 16.

I claim as my invention:

1. A package machine for packaging a plurality of individual cartonsinto an empty case comprising, in combination, a transfer chute havingupstream and downstream ends, carton transfer means at the upstream endof the chute for conveying cartons with widely opened flaps through thechute, flap turning means downstream of the transfer means for turningthe widely opened closure flaps of an open carton into a semiclosedcondition preparatory to sealing. a stacking chamber coupled to saidcrimping means by a conveyor and having a loading opening havingdimensions corresponding to a single tier of cartons and a dischargeopening opposed to and positioned above the level of the loading openingand having dimensions corresponding to the mouth of an empty case,clamping means for gripping and retaining an empty case against thedischarge opening, means for off-loading a single tier of cartons fromthe conveyor and inserting them into said loading opening, elevatormeans within the stacking chamber for lifting an inserted tier ofcartons into alignment with the lowermost portion of the mouth of thegripped case, means for holding a tier of lifted cartons in alignmentwith the case mouth after the elevator means has lowered to receive anew tier of cartons, and ejector means for moving a completed stack ofcarton tiers from the stacking chamber through the discharge openinginto the mouth of the empty case.

2. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising aspool-shaped crimper roller downstream of the flap turning means, saidcrimper roller having a circumferential notch aligned with one corner ofa carton traveling through the chute, one inner edge of said notch beingsurfaced with an annular ring of resilient material.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said crimper rollercomprises two split halves joumaled on a common rota tional axis, eachhalf having a circumferential notch and annular resilient ring on theinner edge thereof, and means for resiliently urging the crimper rollerhalves axially together.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including power means for turningsaid crimper roller, an idler roller carried spaced oppositely from thecrimper roller, and spring-loaded journal means for resiliently urgingthe idler roller toward the crimper roller.

5. A packaging machine for packaging a plurality of individual cartonsinto an empty case comprising, in combination, a stacking chamber havinga loading opening having dimensions corresponding to a single tier ofcartons and a discharge opening opposed to and positioned above thelevel of the loading opening and having dimensions corresponding to themouth of an empty case, clamping means for gripping and retaining anempty case against the discharge opening, loading means for off-loadingcartons from a conveyor and inserting them a single tier at a time intosaid loading opening, said loading means comprising, in combination, atraverse stop overlying the conveyor, a track aligned parallel to thestop, a carriage mounted for movement on the track, a pusher barcarried, above the conveyor ahead of the stop, by the carriage andshifiable between a lowered position adjacent the conveyor and a raisedposition spaced above the conveyor by a distance which exceeds theheight of conveyed objects, and shifting means for alternately loweringthe pusher bar for an off-loading stroke and raising the pusher bar fora return stroke during which objects may be conveyed until arrested bythe stop, elevator means within the stacking chamber for lifting aninserted tier of cartons into alignment with the lowermost portion ofthe mouth of the gripped case, means for holding a tier of liftedcartons in alignment with the case mouth after the elevator means haslowered to receive a new tier of canons, and ejector means for moving acompleted stack of carton tiers from the stacking chamber through thedischarge opening into the mouth of the empty case.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including first momentary arrestingmeans on said track at the off-loading end of carriage travel, secondmomentary arresting means at the return end of carriage travel, afollower mounted on the carriage for engagement with the arrestingmeans, and linkage means connecting the follower with the pusher bar forraising and lowering movement when the follower is momentarily arrestedby the arresting means at each end of the carriage stroke.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said linkage is effective tolower the pusher bar when the carriage is urged in the off-loadingdirection while the follower is momentarily arrested by the secondarresting means, and effective to raise the pusher bar wher the carriageis urged in the return direction while the follower is momentarilyarrested by the first arresting means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 for use with semiopen cartons inwhich a flap closer bar is disposed transverse to the direction ofcarriage movement and sloped downward in the direction of off-loading ata height effective to engage and depress the semiopen flaps of cartonsbeing off-loaded.

9. A machine for packaging a plurality of individual cartons into anempty case comprising, in combination, a vertical stacking chamberhaving front and rear faces, the front face having a loading openinghaving dimensions corresponding to a single tier of cartons and the rearface having above the level of the loading opening a discharge openinghaving dimensions corresponding to the mouth of an empty case, clampingmeans for gripping and retaining an empty case against the dischargeopening, spreading means adjacent the clamped case for opening the. casemouth to its widest dimensions, loading means for inserting a singletier of cartons into said loading opening, elevator means within thestacking chamber having a stroke extending between the lowermost portionof the loading opening and the lowermost portion of the dischargeopening for lifting an inserted tier of cartons into alignment with thelowermost portion of the mouth of the gripped case, supporting means forholding a tier of lifted cartons in alignment with the case mouth afterthe elevator means has lowered to receive a new tier of cartons, andejector means for moving a completed stack of carton tiers from thestacking chamber through the discharge opening into the mouth of theempty case.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said supporting meanscomprises first and second oppositely disposed holder bars which arepivoted for sideways displacement to allow a tier of cartons to passupward therebetween, and means for resiliently urging the holder barsinward to retain said tier of cartons when the elevator means hasreturned to its lowered position.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which the first holder bar ispositioned parallel to and adjacent the upper edge of the loadingopening and the second holder bar is positioned parallel to and adjacentthe lower edge of the discharge opening, with the uppermost edge of thesecond holder bar being higher than that of the first holder bar wherebya tier of cartons is freed from the first holder bar and urged towardthe front face of the stacking chamber by the second holder bar prior tobeing engaged and supported thereby.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 for use with semiopen cartons havingupraised closure flaps including an overhead flap closer bar positionedabove and inclined downward toward the loading opening for urging opencarton flaps downward upon being inserted through the loading openinginto the stacking chamber by the loading means, and having stackfollower means depending from the upper portion of the stacking chamberfor applying flap closing pressure to the topmost tier of stackedcartons during vertical stack movement,

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said stack follower meansincludes a cam bar, and having a fill indicator switch triggered by theelevation of the cam bar above a predetermined level for energizing theejection means when the stacked cartons have reached a predeterminedheight corresponding to the interior height of the empty case.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said cam bar includes aplurality of cam surfaces and is selectively rotatable to bring eachindividual cam surface into engagement with the fill indicator switch.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said spreading meansincludes a vertical pivoted spreader door adjacent each side of thedischarge opening, means for resiliently urging said doors inward towarda normal position within ,themouth of an empty case and being pivotableoutward upon ejection of a stack of cartons, whereby the stacked cartonsare positively guided in the case mouth.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 including stack follower meansdepending from the upper portion of the stacking chamber and having ahorizontal spreader door positioned between said vertical spreader doorsand engageable within the upper edge of the mouth of the empty case.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 for use with cases of varyingheight in which each vertical spreader door is pro vided with cutoutnotches to clear the upper horizontal edge of the empty carton duringspreading movement, with a notch provided for each height of cartonencountered during use.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said ejector means includesa pusher plate engageable with the rear surface of the stacked cartonsin the stacking chamber, and having height adjusting means for varyingthe height of the pusher plate for engaging carton stacks of variableheight.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which a case support platform iscarried adjacent the lowermost portion of the discharge opening, saidplatform underlying the case short of the center of gravity of thefilled case, whereby said case will tumble backwards away from themachine when the clamping means are released.

ejector means, for actuating the lockout means to prevent loading untilthe ejector means has completed its movement.

1. A package machine for packaging a plurality of individual cartonsinto an empty case comprising, in combination, a transfer chute havingupstream and downstream ends, carton transfer means at the upstream endof the chute for conveying cartons with widely opened flaps through thechute, flap turning means downstream of the transfer means for turningthe widely opened closure flaps of an open carton into a semiclosedcondition preparatory to sealing, a stacking chamber coupled to saidcrimping means by a conveyor and having a loading opening havingdimensions corresponding to a single tier of cartons and a dischargeopening opposed to and positioned above the level of the loading openingand having dimensions corresponding to the mouth of an empty case,clamping means for gripping and retaining an empty case against thedischarge opening, means for offloading a single tier of cartons fromthe conveyor and inserting them into said loading opening, elevatormeans within the stacking chamber for lifting an inserted tier ofcartons into alignment with the lowermost portion of the mouth of thegripped case, means for holding a tier of lifted cartons in alignmentwith the case mouth after the elevator means has lowered to receive anew tier of cartons, and ejector means for moving a completed stack ofcarton tiers from the stacking chamber through the discharge openinginto the mouth of the empty case.
 2. A packaging machine as claimed inclaim 1 further comprising a spool-shaped crimper roller downstream ofthe flap turning means, said crimper roller having a circumferentialnotch aligned with one corner of a carton traveling through the chute,one inner edge of said notch being surfaced with an annular ring ofresilient material.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which saidcrimper roller comprises two split halves journaled on a commonrotational axis, each half having a circumferential notch and annularresilient ring on the inner edge thereof, and means for resilientlyurging the crimper roller halves axially together.
 4. Apparatus asdefined in claim 2 including power means for turning said crimperroller, an idler roller carried spaced oppositely from the crimperroller, and spring-loaded journal means for resiliently urging the idlerroller toward the crimper roller.
 5. A packaging machine for packaging aplurality of individual cartons into an empty case comprising, incombination, a stacking chamber having a loading opening havingdimensions corresponding to a single tier of cartons and a dischargeopening opposed to and positioned above the level of the loading openingand having dimensions corresponding to the mouth of an empty case,clamping means for gripping and retaining an empty case against thedischarge opening, loadinG means for off-loading cartons from a conveyorand inserting them a single tier at a time into said loading opening,said loading means comprising, in combination, a traverse stop overlyingthe conveyor, a track aligned parallel to the stop, a carriage mountedfor movement on the track, a pusher bar carried, above the conveyorahead of the stop, by the carriage and shiftable between a loweredposition adjacent the conveyor and a raised position spaced above theconveyor by a distance which exceeds the height of conveyed objects, andshifting means for alternately lowering the pusher bar for anoff-loading stroke and raising the pusher bar for a return stroke duringwhich objects may be conveyed until arrested by the stop, elevator meanswithin the stacking chamber for lifting an inserted tier of cartons intoalignment with the lowermost portion of the mouth of the gripped case,means for holding a tier of lifted cartons in alignment with the casemouth after the elevator means has lowered to receive a new tier ofcartons, and ejector means for moving a completed stack of carton tiersfrom the stacking chamber through the discharge opening into the mouthof the empty case.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including firstmomentary arresting means on said track at the off-loading end ofcarriage travel, second momentary arresting means at the return end ofcarriage travel, a follower mounted on the carriage for engagement withthe arresting means, and linkage means connecting the follower with thepusher bar for raising and lowering movement when the follower ismomentarily arrested by the arresting means at each end of the carriagestroke.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said linkage iseffective to lower the pusher bar when the carriage is urged in theoff-loading direction while the follower is momentarily arrested by thesecond arresting means, and effective to raise the pusher bar when thecarriage is urged in the return direction while the follower ismomentarily arrested by the first arresting means.
 8. Apparatus asdefined in claim 7 for use with semiopen cartons in which a flap closerbar is disposed transverse to the direction of carriage movement andsloped downward in the direction of off-loading at a height effective toengage and depress the semiopen flaps of cartons being off-loaded.
 9. Amachine for packaging a plurality of individual cartons into an emptycase comprising, in combination, a vertical stacking chamber havingfront and rear faces, the front face having a loading opening havingdimensions corresponding to a single tier of cartons and the rear facehaving above the level of the loading opening a discharge opening havingdimensions corresponding to the mouth of an empty case, clamping meansfor gripping and retaining an empty case against the discharge opening,spreading means adjacent the clamped case for opening the case mouth toits widest dimensions, loading means for inserting a single tier ofcartons into said loading opening, elevator means within the stackingchamber having a stroke extending between the lowermost portion of theloading opening and the lowermost portion of the discharge opening forlifting an inserted tier of cartons into alignment with the lowermostportion of the mouth of the gripped case, supporting means for holding atier of lifted cartons in alignment with the case mouth after theelevator means has lowered to receive a new tier of cartons, and ejectormeans for moving a completed stack of carton tiers from the stackingchamber through the discharge opening into the mouth of the empty case.10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said supporting meanscomprises first and second oppositely disposed holder bars which arepivoted for sideways displacement to allow a tier of cartons to passupward therebetween, and means for resiliently urging the holder barsinward to retain said tier of cartons when the elevator means hasreturned to its lowered position.
 11. Apparatus as definEd in claim 10in which the first holder bar is positioned parallel to and adjacent theupper edge of the loading opening and the second holder bar ispositioned parallel to and adjacent the lower edge of the dischargeopening, with the uppermost edge of the second holder bar being higherthan that of the first holder bar whereby a tier of cartons is freedfrom the first holder bar and urged toward the front face of thestacking chamber by the second holder bar prior to being engaged andsupported thereby.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 for use withsemiopen cartons having upraised closure flaps including an overheadflap closer bar positioned above and inclined downward toward theloading opening for urging open carton flaps downward upon beinginserted through the loading opening into the stacking chamber by theloading means, and having stack follower means depending from the upperportion of the stacking chamber for applying flap closing pressure tothe topmost tier of stacked cartons during vertical stack movement. 13.Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said stack follower meansincludes a cam bar, and having a fill indicator switch triggered by theelevation of the cam bar above a predetermined level for energizing theejection means when the stacked cartons have reached a predeterminedheight corresponding to the interior height of the empty case. 14.Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said cam bar includes aplurality of cam surfaces and is selectively rotatable to bring eachindividual cam surface into engagement with the fill indicator switch.15. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said spreading meansincludes a vertical pivoted spreader door adjacent each side of thedischarge opening, means for resiliently urging said doors inward towarda normal position within the mouth of an empty case and being pivotableoutward upon ejection of a stack of cartons, whereby the stacked cartonsare positively guided in the case mouth.
 16. Apparatus as defined inclaim 15 including stack follower means depending from the upper portionof the stacking chamber and having a horizontal spreader door positionedbetween said vertical spreader doors and engageable within the upperedge of the mouth of the empty case.
 17. Apparatus as defined in claim15 for use with cases of varying height in which each vertical spreaderdoor is provided with cutout notches to clear the upper horizontal edgeof the empty carton during spreading movement, with a notch provided foreach height of carton encountered during use.
 18. Apparatus as definedin claim 9 in which said ejector means includes a pusher plateengageable with the rear surface of the stacked cartons in the stackingchamber, and having height adjusting means for varying the height of thepusher plate for engaging carton stacks of variable height. 19.Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which a case support platform iscarried adjacent the lowermost portion of the discharge opening, saidplatform underlying the case short of the center of gravity of thefilled case, whereby said case will tumble backwards away from themachine when the clamping means are released.
 20. Apparatus as definedin claim 9 including lockout means for preventing operation of saidloading means, and control means, including a limit switch associatedwith the ejector means, for actuating the lockout means to preventloading until the ejector means has completed its movement.